TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering will officially name its 200,000-square-foot-facility "The Herbert F. Morgan Building" in honor of the late state representative who was instrumental in the college''s creation. The building-naming ceremony will take place:

Morgan, an FSU alumnus, was a member of the Florida House of Representatives representing the Tallahassee area from 1974 to 1986. He served as chairman of the Appropriations and Rules committees and played a major role in securing legislation and funding for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

"Herbert F. Morgan helped pioneer and establish the joint College of Engineering of which both FAMU and FSU are proud today," said FAMU Interim President Castell Vaughn Bryant. "It is fitting that our universities pay tribute to his visionary leadership for this academic program and his many noteworthy contributions to education in the state of Florida."

"Herb Morgan was a champion of higher education and a strong advocate for the establishment of the engineering school," said FSU President T.K.Wetherell, a former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives who served alongside Morgan in the Legislature during the 1980s. "As a public servant, he exhibited the highest ethical standards and served his state with dignity, intelligence and an unwavering commitment. I''m delighted to help honor his memory in this manner."

Morgan earned a bachelor''s degree in business from FSU in 1966. In 1991, he received the university''s highest award, the James D. Westcott Distinguished Service Medal. He also was awarded the Omicron Delta Kappa "Grad Made Good" Award and the Moore-Stone Award for outstanding service to FSU athletics. Morgan received an honorary doctorate from FSU shortly before his death in 2003.

For his legislative service, he twice received the Allen Morris Award as the most effective member of the House of Representatives and also was recognized with many awards for effectiveness in committee work and debate. In addition, Morgan was credited with revamping Florida government''s budgeting system, bringing millions of dollars in construction projects to Tallahassee, and fighting for better schools and care for the disabled and mentally ill.

In addition to Bryant and Wetherell, others expected to participate in Thursday''s building-naming ceremony include Whitson Morgan, the lawmaker''s son; Florida Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee; John Phelps, former Clerk of the House of Representatives and current curator of the historic Florida Capitol; and Ching-Jen Chen, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Also in attendance will be Rep. Morgan''s widow, Mary, and his two daughters and two stepdaughters.